Hiersche chosen as interim Hopkinton school superintendent

In a split vote, the School Committee decided last night to offer the job of interim town superintendent to former Framingham schools chief Steven Hiersche. Among the five members, Chairwoman Nancy Burdick and newcomer Jon Graziano voted against entering into contract talks with Hiersche, who left Framingham recently after three years on the job.

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 19, 2012 at 7:02 PM

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 19, 2012 at 7:02 PM

HOPKINTON

» Social News

In a split vote, the School Committee decided last night to offer the job of interim town superintendent to former Framingham schools chief Steven Hiersche.

Among the five members, Chairwoman Nancy Burdick and newcomer Jon Graziano voted against entering into contract talks with Hiersche, who left Framingham recently after three years on the job.

After being moved forward as the lone finalist, Hiersche had his references checked and met with Hopkinton administrators, passing those tests, School Committee members said.

But during the group’s meeting last night at the district office, Burdick said she was wrestling with the decision. She said not all the reviews of his communication skills had been positive and that he had not necessarily healed divided communities when he took over as superintendent in Watertown and Framingham - though she acknowledged expecting such a talent might be unrealistic.

“I’m not as confident as I wish I were,” she said. “I’m not sure he is the right person for our community right now.”

While Hiersche could likely act “tactically” to get things accomplished in his one year in Hopkinton, Graziano questioned whether the finalist has the vision to come in and provide constructive criticism.

Graziano said Hiersche was likely the best candidate Hopkinton had received, but questioned if the process had drawn the best talent.

Committee member Rebecca Robak said some qualified retirees had sat on the sideline because of the public nature of the search, but said transparency was called for given the departure of Superintendent Jonathan Landman after just a year.

“Given where we’re at with the community, the process we have right now is the one we need to follow,” she said, with candidates applying and then three semi-finalists publicly announced.

Robak and other Hiersche backers talked about the importance of getting an interim superintendent in place soon and brought up his experience dealing with a new teacher evaluation system, with the state School Building Authority and with union negotiations – all issues Hopkinton faces.

Member Scott Aghababian, who voted “yes,” pointed to Hiersche’s high marks on budgeting but, like Graziano, said he “didn’t feel a great connection from a vision standpoint.”

Member Jean Bertschmann said she spoke with Watertown and Framingham school committee members, who reported that Hiersche was “able to do a lot to bring the community back together.”

(Michael Morton can be reached at 508-626-4338, or mmorton@wickedlocal.com.)